Knowledge on the Go

By Vizient Performance Improvement CollaborativeMedicine Health & Fitness

Knowledge on the Go episodes

October 05 Advancing Ambulatory Access
Patients benefit when health systems make it easier to access the right care at the right time. Andrea Boohaker, Associate Vice President of Ambulatory Services at UAB Medicine, joins host Shannon Hale to discuss UAB’s work to optimize advanced practice provider templates and improve access. Their conversation explores new care pathways for patients with urgent, lower acuity needs, including UAB’s Rapid Access Clinic.

Guest Speaker:
Andrea Boohaker, DNP, ACNP-BC, RNFA
Associate Vice President of Ambulatory Services
UAB Medicine

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:52] UAB Medicine’s access challenges and the opportunity to optimize advanced practice provider templates.
[03:48] Research from other organizations helped shape the improvement process, along with early engagement from leaders, frontline staff, and access center colleagues.
[06:03] Peer organizations demonstrated how template optimization could reduce third available appointments and help patients receive care within the week.
[06:52] UAB’s Rapid Access Clinic connects patients with lower acuity orthopedic injuries to timely specialty care.
[08:35] Collaboration between orthopedic teams and emergency department colleagues helped expand the Rapid Access Clinic to walk in patients and weekend injury care.
[09:57] Understanding barriers, keeping patients at the center, and learning from setbacks can help teams navigate resistance to change.
[11:36] Each clinic may require a different solution based on its care model, staffing needs, and workflow challenges.
[12:36] Trusting your team, trusting your gut, and trusting your data can help guide improvement work.
[13:51] The new process could benefit patients, advanced practice providers, departments, and the broader organization.
[15:24] UAB plans to scale the work while recognizing that each team may need a different solution.

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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18 min
September 14 Building Better Sepsis Care
Sepsis care requires collaboration across the entire healthcare system, from community education and emergency care to inpatient treatment and post discharge support. Jessica Pearson, Quality Operations Program Director with WellStar Health System, joins host Shannon Hale to discuss how WellStar built a mature sepsis program, expanded education for residents and providers, and is using data, technology and artificial intelligence to improve recognition, treatment and outcomes.

Guest Speaker:
Jessica Pearson, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CNL
Quality Operations Program Director
Wellstar Health System

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:49] How WellStar built a mature sepsis program through reliable processes, data review, electronic medical record tools, education and collaboration across specialties.
[02:19] The challenges of educating new emergency department residents each year and the role of MythBuster sessions in addressing misconceptions about sepsis requirements and treatment.
[04:54] The open communication between quality and clinical teams helps providers understand documentation requirements while keeping patient care at the center.
[06:49] Sepsis intervention tracker that monitors the timing of lactic acid tests, blood cultures, antibiotics and fluids across hospitals, units and shifts.
[08:56] WellStar facilities share successful strategies through system sepsis committee meetings while adapting those practices to their own patients, staffing and workflows.
[10:46] The next phase of sepsis improvement, including readmission trends, timely follow up care, discharge education and patient comprehension.
[12:53] Potential for artificial intelligence to support earlier recognition, consistent surveillance, high risk patient prioritization and clinical decision making.
[14:59] Why sepsis education needs to extend beyond the hospital to patients, families, urgent cares, emergency medical services, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.
[17:11]The importance of bringing the entire community together to recognize sepsis symptoms and support timely treatment.

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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18 min
August 24 Patient experience built around human connection
Patient experience is more than a measure of satisfaction. It is shaped by every interaction a patient and family have throughout their care. Suzanne Smith, System Director of Patient Experience at Main Line Health, joins host Shannon Hale to discuss how intentional communication, empathy and presence can improve patient experience. They explore Main Line Health’s ED Ambassador Program, its organization wide approach to patient experience and the small behaviors that can make a meaningful difference for patients, families and care teams.

Guest Speaker:
Suzanne Smith, M.Ed., CPXP
System Director of Patient Experience
Main Line Health

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:48] How Main Line Health approaches patient experience as a partnership across quality, safety and care.
[04:16] Supporting care teams by removing barriers, elevating the patient voice and using feedback to improve the patient journey.
[07:48] Building an organization wide culture of patient experience through intentional communication, empathy and presence.
[09:59] How ED ambassadors help patients and families navigate busy emergency departments while supporting clinical teams. [12:47] The real-world impact of an ED ambassador who helped a family navigate a traumatic emergency with clarity and compassion.
[15:25] Starting discharge planning early so patients understand their care, know what comes next and feel confident asking questions.
[17:04] Why clarity, empathy and small human behaviors can have a lasting impact on how patients experience their care.

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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20 min
August 10 Strengthening interhospital transfer operations
Interhospital transfers are a critical part of ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time. Standardized processes can help improve patient flow, strengthen communication, and create more consistent experience for patients and care teams. Our host Shannon Hale sits down with Dr. Benjamin Buettner, Assistant Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Director of the Transfer Center at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, to discuss how their system is improving transfers through standardization, collaboration and innovation.

Guest Speaker:
Benjamin P. Buettner, MD, FACP
Assistant Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical Director, Transfer Center
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:42] Inside Ohio State's Transfer Center and managing monthly bed requests
[02:41] Why standardizing transfer processes improves consistency, patient safety and operational efficiency
[05:22] Simplifying transfer reasons and redesigning workflows to support better decision making
[06:21] Optimizing the electronic health record and building stakeholder buy-in
[07:57] Balancing patient needs with capacity management and making thoughtful transfer decisions
[09:11] Investing in frontline nurses and using technology to improve transfer outcomes
[11:48] Lessons learned from improving inter hospital transfer workflows and sustaining long term change
[15:11] What's next for Ohio State including AI, predictive analytics and the future of transfer centers

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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19 min
July 27 Length of stay
Reducing hospital length of stay remains a priority for healthcare organizations, but determining which strategies have the greatest impact is not always straightforward. Laura Hoffman, Senior PI Program Director, and Eric Lam, Principal Intelligence, join host Shannon Hale to discuss findings from Vizient's recent length of stay breakthrough survey. They explore how survey responses were combined with clinical data to identify meaningful trends, highlight strategies and explain how organizations can use these insights to prioritize initiatives that fit their unique needs.

Guest Speakers:
Laura Hoffman DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Eric Lam, BS
Principal, Intelligence
Vizient

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:07] Vizient launched the length of stay breakthrough survey and how 168 hospitals helped identify current improvement strategies.[03:36] Qualitative survey responses were transformed into measurable data to uncover meaningful trends while reducing bias.
[06:00] Key findings from the survey and which strategies had the greatest impact.
[07:46] Why patient centered approaches, including addressing social determinants of health, showed stronger results
[10:04] How organizations can use the survey findings to compare performance, identify gaps and prioritize improvement efforts.
[11:14] Using data to focus on the strategies with the greatest potential impact.
[13:04] The strategies most closely associated with lower length of stay, including escalation processes, leadership engagement, and case manager led rounds.
[14:24] How case managers help identify discharge barriers, coordinate post-acute care, and improve patient transitions.

Links | Resources:
Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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16 min
July 13 Transforming supply chain with AI
Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare operations by helping organizations improve efficiency and reduce administrative burden. Dr. Dustin McLemore, Senior Program Manager at Providence, joins host Shannon Hale to discuss how Providence has partnered with frontline caregivers to develop an AI powered supply chain solution that gives valuable time back to patient care while keeping clinicians at the center of the process.

Guest Speaker:
Dustin D. McLemore, EdD, PMP®
Senior Program Manager, Logistics Operations
Providence Supply Chain Organization (SCO)

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:07] Artificial intelligence in healthcare supply chain operations
[00:38] Opportunities to reduce administrative burden for caregivers
[02:43] Why Providence built its own AI solution
[04:52] Built by caregivers, for caregivers
[07:53] Keeping frontline caregivers involved after implementation of AI
[08:46] Financial impact and returning time to patient care
[11:26] Finding the right balance between AI and human oversight
[13:27] Earning caregiver trust through data and feedback
[15:59] Lessons for healthcare leaders adopting AI

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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19 min
June 29 Roadmap to top performance
What separates top performing health systems from their peers? For the past two decades, Vizient has explored that question through research focused on leadership, culture, and practices that drive organizational performance. Julie Cerese, Group Senior Vice President of Performance Management and National Networks at Vizient, joins host Shannon Hale to discuss how this work has evolved and why it continues to shape healthcare organizations today.

Guest Speaker:
Julie Cerese RN, MSN, PhD
Senior Vice President Member Networks and Performance Management Programs
Vizient

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:07] Introduction and the origins of the Roadmap to Top Performance research
[01:03] Healthcare leaders asked what separates top performing organizations from their peers
[03:01] Building the Quality and Accountability ranking using STEAP principles
[04:41] The blinded research process that uncovered clear differences between top and middle performers
[05:27] One specific healthcare system applied the research findings to achieve sustained excellence
[07:25] Researchers observations during site visits to top performing organizations
[09:01] Leadership, culture, and why visible executives create accountability throughout an organization
[11:49] Vizient's Roadmap to Top Performance benchmarking survey
[15:16] Participating organizations are learning from the survey
[17:01] Reflecting on twenty years of research and its continued impact on healthcare performance

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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19 min
June 22 Leading quality improvement
Process improvement plays a critical role in healthcare by helping organizations deliver safer, efficient and more reliable care. Our host Shannon Hale welcomes Dr. Josee Gill, Director of Quality for the Bellin Region at Emplify Health, to discuss what it takes to build a culture of continuous improvement. Drawing on years of leadership experience, Gill shares insights on engaging frontline staff, sustaining progress, and maintaining a commitment to delivering the highest quality care possible.

Guest:
Josee Gill, DNP, RN, CPHQ, LSSGB
Director of Quality Bellin Region
Emplify Health

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:45] Josie's healthcare journey from emergency nursing to quality leadership
[02:42] Overview of Emplify Health and the Bellin Region
[03:21] How Vizient collaboratives support performance improvement efforts
[05:10] Why continuous improvement never stops, even with strong performance
[06:43] Advice for professionals beginning a career in quality and performance improvement
[08:27] Building relationships with frontline teams and using data effectively
[09:04] Gaining leadership support through organizational benchmarking
[10:09] Practical approaches to sustaining performance improvement initiatives
[12:13] Advice for organizations participating in Vizient performance improvement programs
[14:07] The future of performance improvement at Emplify Health
[15:02] Incorporating patient advisors into improvement work
[15:58] Maintaining and improving quality through healthcare mergers

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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19 min
May 25 Supply chain variation
Supply variation reduction plays a critical role in helping healthcare organizations improve efficiency, lower costs, and support high quality patient care. Our host Shannon Hale speaks with Marcy Maddox, Executive Director of Supply Chain at University of Missouri Healthcare, about building clinician buy in, sustaining long term improvement, and creating a culture that embraces collaboration and continuous learning.

Guest Speaker:
Marcy Maddox, MHA
Executive Director of Supply Chain
University of Missouri Healthcare

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[1:55] Key lessons learned about clinician engagement and organizational alignment
[3:22] How leadership support and physician champions helped drive progress
[4:31] Why early wins encouraged more clinician participation
[5:27] Strategies for organizing work and using data to support decisions
[6:26] The importance of monitoring progress and maintaining accountability
[8:07] How teams evaluate variation while prioritizing patient care
[8:44] Marcy shares how past challenges helped shape future success
[10:05] Ways leaders can create safe environments for collaboration and growth
[11:21] The role leadership plays in shaping organizational culture
[12:11] How supply chain work ultimately supports patient outcomes
[13:00] Practical guidance for teams starting their variation reduction journey
[14:53] What sustainable success looks like for variation reduction efforts

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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17 min
May 11 Medication reconciliation
Medication reconciliation plays a critical role in patient safety by ensuring medications are accurate, appropriate, and understood during transitions of care. Vizient host Shannon Hale speaks with Ekaterina Kossykh-Burrows, Clinical Pharmacist at Highland Hospital, about practical strategies to prioritize high risk patients, build trust with providers, and drive measurable impact through pharmacy led interventions.

Guest Speaker:
Ekaterina Kossykh-Burrows Pharm.D., BCPS
Clinical Pharmacist
Highland Hospital

Host:
Shannon Hale, MHA, RN, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Vizient

Show Notes:
[00:46] Overview of Highland Hospital and its patient population
[01:20] The value of collaborative learning and participating in the performance improvement collaborative
[03:09] Medication reconciliation workflows and how patients are prioritized
[04:57] How a patient scoring system is developed, including risk factors and data validation
[07:02] How medication related risk factors contribute to readmissions
[07:32] Gaps in electronic records and the need for human involvement
[08:46] The role of clinical judgment alongside technology
[09:10] The impact of dedicated pharmacy roles on improving medication accuracy
[10:29] Best practices for building programs, including starting small and maintaining consistency

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Contacting Knowledge on the Go: [email protected]

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14 min

About Knowledge on the Go

From the publisher's feed

The Vizient PI Collaboratives team hosts podcasts throughout the year on issues such as leading and managing systems, engaging your workforce, and optimizing care delivery.